Osteospermum plant named ‘GG DEL PWN06’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Osteospermum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by daisy type inflorescences, freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with continuous blooming from spring through autumn, lavender and violet spoon ray florets, and dark blue disc florets.

Latin name of the genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘GG DEL PWN06’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘GG DEL PWN06’ is a product of open pollination in aheterogeneous population of Osteospermum mass selection. The newcultivar was discovered and selected by Leo Van Zanten in May 2004 inCarpinteria, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘GG DEL PWN06’ by cuttings fromadventitious shoots was performed in Oxnard, Calif., and has shown thatthe unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘GG DEL PWN06’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GG DEL PWN06.’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘GG DEL PWN06’ as a new and distinctOsteospermum cultivar.

-   -   1. Daisy type inflorescence;    -   2. Lavender and violet spoon-type ray florets;    -   3. Dark blue disc florets; and    -   4. A free branching habit.

There is no parent variety to compare to ‘GG DEL PWN06’.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Aknik’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 14,316), ‘GG DEL PWN06’ is smaller in both height and plantspread. Also, ‘GG DEL PWN06’ has more leaves per lateral branch andobovate-shaped leaves comapred to the elliptical-shaped leaves of thecomparable variety. Additionally, ‘GG DEL PWN06’ has less inflorescencesper plant and a wider disc diameter. Finally, the ray florets of the newvariety ‘GG DEL PWN06’ are a different color than the comparablevariety, with a much lighter base, more blue-violet than purple at thetubular midsection and more purple at the apex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in drawing illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘GG DEL PWN06’ grown in a 6-inch pot, planted lateOctober and grown outdoors. The plant is 18 weeks old. The growingtemperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C.during the day. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possiblein a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘GG DEL PWN06’ plants grown in Oxnard, VenturaCounty, Calif., during the months of October through February. Thegrowing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar ‘GG DEL    PWN06.’-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Osteospermum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 10 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding outwardly spreading herbaceous perennial.-   Height: Approximately 30 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 35 cm.-   Growth rate: Vigorous.-   Branching characteristics: Free Branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 15 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 50.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 130 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Entire with occasional tiny serrations.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 2 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near Green 137C. Mature foliage upper            side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green            138A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near            Yellow-Green 144A. Venation color under side: Near            Yellow-Green 144A.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing            conditions with continuous blooming from spring through            autumn and year round in a greenhouse environment.        -   Inflorescence form.—Daisy.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout February to            September in temperature regions.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately 5            open inflorescences.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 5.6 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 5 to 10            days; longevity of individual flowers are very dependent on            temperature and light conditions.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—23.        -   Shape.—Spoon.        -   Aspect.—Slightly cupped, facing upward or outward.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Lighter than            Red-Purple 62D at base; near Violet-Blue 89D at tubular            midsection; and near Red-Purple 70B at apex. Upper surface            at maturity: Near Red-Purple 62D at base; near Violet-Blue            89D at tubular midsection; and near Purple 78C at apex.            Upper surface at fading: Near Red-Purple 62D at base; near            Red-Purple 63C at center to near Purple 77C and Purple 77A            at extreme tip. Under surface at first opening: Near            Violet-Blue 91D with shades of Violet-Blue 89D. Under            surface at maturity: Near Violet-Blue 91D with longitudinal            stripes of near Blue 103C and Violet 85C to apex. Under            surface at fading: Near Violet-Blue 91D with longitudinal            stripes of near Blue 103C and Violet 85C to apex.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 86.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Apex.—Five-pointed.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Average weight.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Blue 103A. At maturity: Near            Blue 103A. At fading: Near Blue 103A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 14 cm.        -   Angle.—Terminal peduncles, erect; secondary and tertiary            peduncles, about 45° from vertical.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144A with patches of Yellow-Green            148A.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Form.—Ovoid to elliptic.        -   Color.—Near Green 137A.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 24.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green            137B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Androecium.—Present on disc florets only. Number of            stamens: 5. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length:            Approximately 1.2 mm. Anther color: Near Blue 103A. Amount            of pollen: Not abundant. Pollen color: Near Yellow-Orange            15A.        -   Gynoecium.—Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil Number:            One. Pistil length: Approximately 5 mm. Stigma shape: Two            parted. Stigma length: Approximately 1.1 mm. Stigma color:            Near Purple 79A. Style length: Approximately 0.1 cm. Style            color: Near Purple 79A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Plants are moderately drought    tolerant. Plants and cold, less than 12.8° C. for flower induction.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘GG DELPWN06’ as herein illustrated and described.